Needle-threader.



No. 783,692. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. S. H. GARNER. NEEDLE THREADER.

APPLIUATION ULEB Nov. s, 1904.

Witness@ '61A Vil, fr s no. 'massa ire marne Patented February 28, 190%?.

STEPHEN H. GARNICR, OF MULUUNDA, VlLlZlNUIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,692, dated February 28, 1905,

Application filed November This invention relates to devices for facilil tating the threading of needles, ripiiing the seams of garments, and for similar purposes, and has for its object to provide a simply-constructed and easily applied and operated device of this character preferably attachable to a sewing-thimble.

lith these and otherobjects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed. Y

ln the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred 'form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being' understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto,as various changes in the shape, proportions, and general assemblage of the parts may be resorted to without departing' from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

ln the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is a side View of the improved device applied to a sewing-thimble. Fig. 2 is a similar view, enlarged, with the ripping-blade extended. Fig. 3 is a plan view with the ripping-blade depressed. Fig. 4 is a section on the line te of Fig. 2. the same scale as Figs. 3 and et, of the supporting-frame detached. the combined threading-lilook and blade-locking member detached.

The improved implement comprises a supportingmem ber having spaced sides lt) il and preferalily connected by an integral web l2, extending' alongl one side for a portion ot' the distance, leaving' the side portions disconneeted for apart of their lengths and with the open ends diverging, as at A13 ist, said side Fig. 5 is a perspective view, on L Fig. 6 is a view of 3,1904L Serial No. 231,246.

l portions consti tuting spring ciampiiig-jaws to hold a needle therebetween.

liestil'ig in the space between the side members is a resilient wire rod l5, extended at one end `for position opposite the divergingI ends 13 la and terminating in a lateral hook 1G and with the other end bent laterally, as at 17. The rod .l5 is provided with two intermedii ate ol'isets V18 19, one to engage the inner end of the web 12 and the other to cause a portion of the rod to be spaced fromthe web to `forni a supporti11g-spring for a ripping-blade 20, pivoted at 2l between the sideportions l() ll. The ripping-blade is also provided with a shoulder 22, into which the end of the lateral bend i7 of the rod lits, as shown in Fig. 2, when the blade is distended to limit its ontward movement.

The side members l0 ll will be pinched upon the portion of the rod 15 between the intermediate shoulders 13 i9 to prevent its removal laterali)Y therefrom, while the engagement of the offset lb with the web l2 prevents longitudinal movement in one direction and the laterally-bent end 17, bez'u'ing constantlyT against the ripping-blade 20, prevents longitudinal movement in the opposite direction. l'he rod l5 is thus firmly held in position and will not be displaced under the strains to which it will be subjected while in use.

It will here be explained that as the wire rod or bar ,l5 is lixed internnxliate of its ends` its rear ol'lfset portion is Yfree and. operates as a spring-bar across the inner end and one longitudinal edge of the blade 20 in both the closed and open positions of the latter, whereb v the spring operates to vieldably hold the blade at its opposite limits, so as to prevent i accidental pivotal movements thereof, while l at the same time permitting of the convenient oijicning and closing of the blade.

The hooked terminal 1G of the rod l5 is reduced in size to enable it to pass through the o ve of the needle to be threaded.

To thread a needle with the improved device, the needle is positioned between the diverging` ends i3 lilof the m-iedle-holding llaws, with the eye of the same receiving the reduced hooked end lo of the rod and the thread drawn over the protruding portion in the rear of the hook 16. The needle is then detached from the rod, the hook 16 drawing the thread which it holds through the eye of the needle and completing the threading action, as will be obvious.

The rod 15 will necessarily be of tine steel, preferably oil-tempered, to secure the requisite strength and resiliency and will be small enough to pass through the eyes of the smallest needles.

The supporting member will preferably be attached to a sewing-thimble 24 and when thus employed produces a very convenient, useful, and efficient device.

The end 13 of the member 10 is curved to a greater extent than the opposite side 14 when applied to a thimble, so that it conforms to the shape of the same and oti'ers a more effectual guide to the needle, and at the same' time the longer portion 13 prevents any tendency of the needle to miss the space between the side members when the device is applied to open-topped thimbles.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A needle-threader comprising spaced side members,a ri pping-blade pivoted between the same, and a rod supported intermediate of its ends between the side members, one end of the rod being provided with a lateral bend constituting a spring portion bearing against the blade to limit the movement thereof, and the other end of the bar being provided with a thread-engaging hook for passing through the eye of a needle supported between the side members.

2. A needle-threader comprising spaced side members which are extended to form spring needle-holding jaws diverged at their outer ends, a ripping-blade pivoted between the side members and foldable therebetween toward the outer ends of the jaws, and a resilient bar held between the members with one end bent laterally to bear against the pivotal end of the blade to limit the movement thereof, the other end of the bar being provided with a thread-engaging hook disposed at one side of and opposite the space between the diverged end portions of the jaws and adapted to pass'through the eye of a neevbeing provided with a thread-engaging hook for passing through the eye of a needle supported between the side members.

4. A needle-threader comprising spaced side members connected by a transverse web extending part way only of the lengths of the side members, the unconnected portions of the side members being diverged at their free ends and constituting needle-holding jaws, a ripping-'blade pivoted between the members, and a wire supported upon the web between the side members and provided with intermediate spaced offsets, one of said osets lying' against the web and the other offset constituting a spring bearing against the inner end of the blade, the opposite end of the wire being disposed opposite the space between the jaws and terminating in a thread-engaging hook.

A needle-threader comprising a pair of spaced side members connected throughout a part of their lengths by alate1ally-oii`set web the remaining portions of said sides constituting needle-holding' jaws, and a bar secured between the members upon the web with one end portion terminating in a thread-engaging hook disposed at one side of and in alinement with the space between the needle-holding jaws.

6. A needlc-threader comprising a pair of spaced sides having corresponding end portions constituting needle-holding jaws, a longitudinally-disposed bar offset from the device opposite the space between the jaws and terminating in a thread-engaging hook, and a ripping-blade pivoted between the members and working at that side of the latter opposite the bar.

7. A thimble provided with a terminallyhooked needlethreadingbar disposed longitudinally thereof and oiiset laterally therefrom, the hooked end of the bar being directed toward the closed end of the thimble.

8. A thimble provided with a pair of spaced longitudinally-disposed side members having their end portions adjacent the closed end of the thimble constituting needle-holding jaws, a bar carried by the side members and oifset laterally therefrom with one end portion disposed opposite the space between the jaws and terminating in a thread-engaging hook, and a ripping-blade pivoted between the members and working at that side thereof opposite the bar.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownl have hereto atixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

STEPHEN H. GARNER.

lhfitnesses:

`W. D. BEAME, Ror THoMAs.

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